Oregon Public Broadcasting

A Portland neighborhood association is opposing a plan to change Marshall high school into a small magnet school for students from across the city. Amelia Templeton reports.

The Lents association says many parents in the neighborhood don’t want Marshall to close and are concerned their children will end up with long commutes to other Portland schools.

It’s proposed moving the school district lines so that Marshall families would be part of the nearby David Douglas school district. 

Marshall High School has a lot of extra space. And David Douglas is overcrowded.

Nick Christensen is the president of the Lents neighborhood association.

Nick Christensen: "David Douglas school district is familiar with educating east Portland. Portland Public Schools has not had a track record of success at Marshall High School. Some people feel like they’re just giving up after trying for a long time to get things jump started."

The Portland School District says turning Marshall into a magnet school is the best way to take advantage of recent successes there. 

And the school district’s redesign plan raises the possibility of some collaboration with David Douglas.